John Barlow (diplomat) facts for kids
John Barlow was an important church leader during the time of King Henry VIII in England. He was a member of the King's new Protestant church and served as the Dean of Worcester Cathedral. John Barlow played a key role when King Henry VIII was trying to end his first marriage. He traveled between England and Italy, carrying important messages for the King.
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Who Was John Barlow?
John Barlow was a smart and educated man who finished his studies at the University of Oxford in 1521. He became a significant figure in the church during a time of big changes in England.
A Time of Big Changes
King Henry VIII wanted to end his marriage to his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. To do this, he needed permission from the Pope in Rome. This was a very important issue for the King, and it led to many changes in England, including the creation of the Church of England, separate from the Pope.
Helping the King
John Barlow was deeply involved in the King's efforts to get his marriage annulled. An annulment is like a special kind of divorce that says a marriage was never truly valid. Barlow supported Anne Boleyn, who was the woman King Henry VIII wanted to marry next. He worked as a messenger, traveling between England and Italy to help the King's cause.
A Close Friend of Anne Boleyn
Barlow was very close to Anne Boleyn. He found out that Cardinal Wolsey, a powerful church leader, was secretly working against the King's plans in Rome. Barlow quickly told Anne Boleyn about this in 1528. This information made Anne Boleyn very angry with Wolsey, and it was a big reason why Wolsey lost his power the next year. People at the time said that Barlow was "one of her [Anne Boleyn's] favourite clerics," meaning he was one of her most trusted churchmen.
His Church Career
In June 1530, John Barlow was given an important job as the head of the College of Westbury-on-Trym, which was near Bristol. Later, in 1544, when that college was closed, Barlow became the Dean of Worcester Cathedral. He held this important position until 1553. However, when Queen Mary came to power, she was a Catholic and removed him from his role because he was a Protestant.
His Family
John Barlow came from a family with several notable members. His father was Robert Barlow, a merchant from Colchester. John had three brothers. Two of his brothers, William Barlow and Thomas, also became important churchmen. His other brother, Roger, was a merchant who worked in places like Seville, Spain, and Bristol, England. Roger even sailed to South America with the famous explorer Sebastian Cabot.
